Common Sense

In this influential pamphlet first published in 1776, Thomas Paine boldly voiced the American desire for independence in clear, accessible language, resonating with colonists and capturing their imaginations. Selling 120,000 copies within three months and half a million in its first year, it became a pivotal catalyst for the independence movement in the United States. Esteemed historian Bernard Bailyn hailed it as "the most brilliant pamphlet written during the American Revolution," underscoring its significant impact on the era.